Men's Basketball | 11/13/2015 11:51:00 AM

Wagram, N.C.----Wingate University men's basketball point guard Lorinza "Junior" Harrington ('02) was originally slated for WU Sports Hall of Fame induction with the class of 2012. Harrington and four other Bulldog greats will be inducted into the WU Sports Hall of Fame Friday night, Nov. 13.
 
Harrington has 13 years of professional basketball experience. He has played for three NBA teams. During his 2002-03 NBA rookie season, Harrington was the only Denver player to play in all 82 games. In addition to his NBA experiences, he has played professionally in the Ukraine, Spain, Russia, Slovenia, Poland and Colombia.
 
The Scotland High School graduate has collected many honors in his professional career. Harrington made the FIBA Cup All-Star team for Azovmash Mariupol (Ukraine), while leading the team to a league championship. Harrington helped Union Olimpija (Slovenia) win a league title and a huge mid-season tournament. Most recently, he won a team championship with Asseco Prokom Gdynia (Poland) in 2010 as the club made the final eight of the Euro League. Harrington played the 2014-15 season for Condores de Cundinamarca in Colombia.
 
As a senior All-American, Harrington averaged 14.8 points per game and 6.4 assists per game as Wingate compiled a 26-7 overall record. He led the South Atlantic Conference in assists and steals, charting in the NCAA top six in both categories. Wingate won 100 games in his career. During the summer of 2010, he was inducted into the SAC Hall of Fame. His coaches at Wingate were Jeff Reynolds and Parker Laketa.
 
The Wingate Sports Information department caught up with Harrington to get a brief update on his life. A transcript of the interview follows...
 
What was your most memorable athletic experience at Wingate?
 
We had the opportunity to play in the Disney Tip-Off Classic in Florida to begin my senior year.
 
What was your most memorable non-athletic experience at Wingate?
 
The snow storm in 2000... 
 
Who was your favorite professor at Wingate (and why)?
 
Dr. Nancy Randall...I took her for one of my sociology classes. The class was fun and interesting to me. We always had real-life discussions.

One word you would use to describe your personality?
 
Driven
 
If you could be fictional character from any movie, television show, book, etc., for a day who would it be and why?
 
Atz Lee from Alaska: The Last Frontier...he is a very funny guy. I love how they have to live off the land. I have never had to do that, but (I think I) would love to do that for about a week.
 
What was the first pair of shoes you wore when you first started playing your sport?
 
I am not really sure, but probably Converse or Nike…I think Converse was still popular back then. 
 
Why would you recommend Wingate University to others?
 
It's a school where you will receive a quality education while receiving the support you need. The opportunity to develop relationships is a big part of Wingate as well.
 
Describe your experience at Wingate in one word?
 
Unforgettable
 
WINGATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS HALL OF FAME
 
Five new members will be added to the Wingate University Sports Hall of Fame during induction ceremonies on Friday evening, Nov. 13. In addition, the University will recognize the 1967-68 men's basketball team as a Team of Distinction during the event. The WU Sports Hall of Fame ceremonies are sponsored by OrthoCarolina.
 
The Wingate Sports Hall of Fame class of 2015 includes baseball pitcher Bruce Benfield (Charlotte, N.C., class of '76), two-sport star Liz Rogers Biggerstaff (Raleigh, N.C., class of '02, class of '06), football defensive end John Bowman (Rockingham, N.C., class of '05), basketball point guard Lorinza "Junior" Harrington (Wagram, N.C., class of '02) and baseball infielder David Yount (Forest City, N.C., class of '04).
 
The Wingate University Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremonies will begin on Friday evening, Nov. 13 at 6:30 p.m. in the LaVerne Banquet Hall. Tickets for the induction ceremonies banquet are $20 per person and $12 for children 12 and under. For more information about the Wingate University Sports Hall of Fame, contact committee chairman Bill Nash at 704-233-8121 or via E-mail at bilnash@wingate.edu.
 
WINGATE UNIVERSITY
 
Wingate University, consistently ranked as a top 10 "best value" in the South by U.S. News & World Report, serves more than 3,100 students on three campuses in Wingate, Charlotte and Hendersonville, N.C. Founded in 1896, the University offers 35 undergraduate majors, 37 minors and career concentrations, numerous pre-professional programs, master's degrees in business, accounting, education, physician assistant studies and sport management and doctorates in pharmacy, physical therapy and education.
 
With a 15 to 1 student/teacher ratio, Wingate students gain the tools and support needed to excel in academics and apply that learning toward an extraordinary career and life. To view current news, video and story ideas, visit www.youtube.com/wingateuniversity. 
 
In addition to a robust intramural athletics program, Wingate student athletes compete in 22 NCAA Division II sports. The University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past nine years. For more information, go to www.wingate.edu.
 
Wingate is first among NCAA Division II Academic All-America®-producing colleges in the 2000's with 77 selections. Among North Carolina's colleges and universities, Wingate's 77 Academic All-America® honorees are number one during this millennium. Wingate's 86 lifetime Academic All-America® picks are tops among all SAC schools. For more information on WU athletics, go to www.wingatebulldogs.com.